Water damage: what to do in the first hours
Water is on the floor or coming through a wall or ceiling. Here is what to do first, in order, and what to leave to a professional.
Last checked: November 3, 2026. General information, not advice for your property.
1. Make it safe
- Get people and pets out of wet rooms first.
- If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company from outside.
- Flood water and sewage can carry germs and chemicals. Keep children away and wear rubber boots and gloves if you must go in. (EPA flood cleanup guide)
2. Stop the water
- A pipe, water heater, toilet or appliance: close the main water shut-off valve for the house. It is usually where the water line enters the house, in the garage, or in a box near the street. Many appliances also have their own valve behind them.
- Rain or rising water: you cannot stop it, so focus on safety and on moving valuables up and out.
- Roof leak: put a bucket under the drip and, if it is safe, poke a small hole in a bulging ceiling spot over the bucket so water drains in one place instead of bringing the ceiling down. Stay off the roof in a storm.
3. Record the damage
Before you move or throw anything away, take photos and video of every wet room, the source of the water, and damaged items. Keep any part that failed, such as a burst hose. Your insurance company will ask for this, and Texas homeowners policies often treat sudden water damage differently from slow leaks, so the cause matters. (Texas Department of Insurance)
4. Call your insurance company
If you plan to claim, report it early and write down the claim number, the date and the name of everyone you speak to. Ask what they want you to do to prevent more damage, and keep receipts for anything you buy, such as fans or a tarp. See Does home insurance cover water damage?
5. Start drying within 24 to 48 hours
Mold is the main risk after the water stops. EPA guidance is to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours; if that is not possible, assume mold may grow. (EPA)
- Open doors and cabinet doors, and run fans and dehumidifiers, but only once the electricity in that area is safe. (EPA flood cleanup guide)
- Pull up wet rugs and move furniture off wet carpet. Put foil or wood blocks under furniture legs.
- Items soaked by flood water that cannot be cleaned and dried completely within 24 to 48 hours should be thrown away. (EPA flood cleanup guide)
- Painting or caulking over mold does not stop it. (EPA flood cleanup guide)
When to call a restoration company
A household spill on hard floors is often a mop-and-fan job. Call a company when:
- the water came from sewage, a toilet with waste, or a flood from outside (see clean, gray and black water);
- water went into walls, under flooring, or through a ceiling, where you cannot see it dry;
- more than one room is wet, or you cannot get it dry within about two days;
- you see or smell mold.
Restoration companies bring water extraction equipment, commercial fans and dehumidifiers, and moisture meters to find wet areas you cannot see. Ask for a written estimate before work starts, and ask whether they will send their paperwork to your insurance company.
Choose your area, compare real local restoration companies, and send one free request to the one you pick.
Questions people ask
What is the first thing to do when water damage happens?
Make it safe and stop the water. Keep out of standing water near outlets or appliances, then close the main water shut-off valve if the water comes from a pipe, fixture or appliance.
How fast does mold grow after water damage?
EPA guidance is that if wet materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours, in most cases mold will not grow. After that, assume mold may be starting.
Should I take photos before cleaning up?
Yes. Photograph and film every wet room, the source of the water and damaged items before you move or throw anything away, and keep the part that failed. Your insurance company will ask for them.
Can I dry water damage myself?
A small clean-water spill on hard floors usually can be dried with fans and a dehumidifier. Water inside walls, under floors, through ceilings, or from sewage or a flood is a job for a restoration company.
Related guides
Houston Water Damage Guide is not a restoration company. We are a free referral directory run by Rank First Labs Ltd. This guide is general information. When water is near electricity, a ceiling is sagging, or the water is from sewage or a flood, keep out and call a professional.